Photographic developing apparatus.



PATENTED JUNE 2, 1903.

H. P. NORTHROP.

PHOTOGRAPHIG' DEVELOPING APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION I ILBD D110. 11, 1902.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

H0 MODEL.

WITNESSES: ,u 7 G M-Ag;

No. 729,789. a PATENTED JUNE 2, 1903.

H. F. NORTHROP.

PHOTOGRAPHIG DEVELOPING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION IILBD D110. 11, 1902.

WITNESSES:

. INVENTOR ZQ' T ORNEY "m: "cams wnzns co PHOTO-UTHQ, WASNWGTON. D. g

UNITED STATES i atented Tune 2, 1903..

PATENT (Damon.

PHOTOGRAPHIC DEVELOPING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 729,789, dated June 2, 1903. Application filed Deoember ll, 1902. Serial No. 134,825. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HOMER F. NORTHROP, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Waterbury, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Photographic Developing Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an apparatus for developing photographic dry-plates; and it consists of certain details of construction to.

be more fully set forth in the following speci- To enable others to understand my invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which* Figure 1 represents an upper plan view of the apparatus, broken view of the removable cover, its hinged lid, colored glass in said cover, and broken view of the colored-glass slide withdrawn. Fig. 2 is a central sectional side elevation of the box, its cover, colored glass in said cover, broken sectional view of the sliding glass cover, sectional view of the negative-holder, sectional view of the tray for holding the washing solution, and said holder shown immersed in the solution, side elevation of the metal supporting-plate on which the tray is removably located. Fig. 3'is an upper plan view of the tray and its supporting-plate. Fig. 4: is a side elevation of the apparatus, showing the operating rods of the negative-carrying holder pushed in and the side door dropped down. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the box raised from the tray with the negative-holder raised and the glass slide pushed in. Fig. 6 is a broken sectional view of the box and a modified construction of the operating-rods. Fig. 7 is a detail broken sec; tion of one of the operating-rods and link, showing one of the stops engaging with the rod.

Its construction is as follows: 1 represents the box portion of the apparatus; 2, the removable cover therefor 3, a lid hinged to said cover; 4, a button for holding said lid down; 5, a colored-glass plate set into the cover and underlying said lid; 6, a rectangular wall or curb rising from the bottom of the box and extending vertically a distance adapted for a purpose presently to be described. The

area covered 'by this rectangular wall is pref erably less than the area of the bottom of the box. 7 is a coloredglass slide operating through an opening in one end of said box and is guided by the Ways 6 on the upper edge of the rectangular wall 6.

- '8 is the negative-holder pivotally supported on the links 9 and 10. These links are also pivotally supported to the hangers 11 and 12, which hangers are secured to the operatingrods 13 and 14. (See Figs. 1, 2, 5, and 7.)

15 is a guide-sleeve secured to the rod 13 and loosely embracing the rod let. 1G is a guide-sleeve secured to rod lland loosely embracing rod 13.- This arrangement supports the ends of the rods when said rods are longitudinally reciprocated.

9 and 10 are stops secured to one leg of the links 9 and 10. These stops not only serve to limit the downward movement of the negative-holder by engaging with the operatingrods, as shown at Figs. 2 and 7, but they also serve to keep the negative-holder stiff and rigid and free from oscillation when the operating-rods are moved together in one direction, and thus move the negative-holder to and fro in the solution and in unison with said rods.

WVithin the area described by the rectangular wall 6 the opening 1 is provided in the bottom of the box, and within this opening the tray 17, carrying the washing solution, is adapted to be placed during the developing process. a o

18 is a metal base-plate on which the tray rests.

19 is a feltgasket of rectangular form and "surrounding said tray and resting against the bottomof the box, so as to prevent the light from entering through the opening 1 when the tray is covered by the box.'

20 represents short projections rising from the base plate 18, which projections are adapted to engage with the rectangular wall 6, so as to locate the tray'and preventdisplacement of said plate while in contact with the box.

21, Fig. 4c, is a narrow colored glass in one side of the box, and 22 is its hinged door. 4

23 represents handles projecting from the ends of the box.

Operation: IV hen about to develop a nega tive, the apparatus is in the condition shown at Fig. 5viz., with the negative-holder 8 in a raised position and the colored-glass slide 7 pushed in, so as to obstruct or modify the strong rays of light that would otherwise enter through the opening 1. Then the apparatus is either taken into a dark room or a cloth thrown over it while the cover 2 is removed and the negative placed in the holder 8, and when the cover is replaced the developing can be done in the strongest light. In the meantime the base-plate 18, supporting the solution-tray 17, is resting on the table 24, and when the negative is in place the box is dropped over the tray, the glass slide 7 is withdrawn, and the operating-rods 13 and 14 are pushed in, which movement will cause the negative-holder to descend into the solution. Then the operating-rods are drawn in and out sufficient to vertically agitate the negative-holder in the solution and also to give a side-rocking motion to said holder by reason of the said operating-rods being journaled in the ends of the box 1. In this manner a continuous current of the developing solution is caused to flow over the negative, which will give a much quicker result than if the solution was in a quiescent state.

In order to ascertain if the negative is properly developed, the operating-rods are pulled out, so as to raise the negative-holder out of the solution,as shown at Fig. 5. Then the colored-glass slide 7 is pushed in and the lid 3 and door 22 are opened. Then the box is removed from the tray by simply placing the fingers on the under side of the handles 23 and the thumbs on top of the cover to hold it 011. Then the box is held up to the light, the operator looking through the colored glass 5 in the cover, and there being a colored glass on both sides of the negative and an open bottom to the box a free unobstructed view maybe had of the interior without admitting any rays of light that would be detrimental to perfect development. If the negative is not properly developed, the process can be repeated as above described. After the first solution has been used the tray can be emptied and refilled, or to expediate matters several trays may be used, each having a differ- .ent solution and each tray resting on its own base-plate, so that each maybe covered by the box as fast as needed.

In the modification shown at Fig. 6 the manner of guiding the ends of the rods one on the other is dispensed with. In this construction the rods are shortened and are supported in the long bearings 25 and 20, projecting from the ends of the box. The links 9 and 10 of the negative-holder will be pivotally supported in the eyes 13 and 1%, formed in the inner ends of the operating-rods 13 and ll.

From the foregoing it will readily be seen that my improved photographic developer has many advantages that will be appreciated by amateurs. The special feature it possesses of being able to lift the negative entirely out of the solution when necessary to observe what progress has been made greatly facilitates the Work of development, especially when the solution-tray is removed, thus affording a free unobstructed view of the negative.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A photographic developing apparatus comprising a box having an opening in the bottom of smaller area than said bottom, a wall or curb surrounding said opening so as to leave a space between said curb and the walls of said box, a solution-tray adapted to enter said opening and be embraced by said curb, a base-plate supporting said tray, said plate adapted to overlap and cover said opening, substantially as described.

2. A photographic developing apparatus comprising a box having an opening in the bottom whose area is smaller than said bot tom, a curb surrounding said opening so as to leave a space between said curb and the inner walls of said box, a plate adapted to overlap and cover said opening, a solution= tray resting on said plate and adapted to be embraced by said curb, operating-rods journaled in the sides of said box and projecting within and without the same, a negative holder pivotally supported to said rods and overlying said tray, said rods adapted to be reciprocated so as to lower said holder into the solution within said tray and raise it therefrom, substantially as described.

3. A photographic developing apparatus comprising a box having an opening in the bottom of smaller area than said bottom, a curb surrounding said opening whose area is also less than the area of said bottom, a removable base-plate adapted to overlap and close said opening, said plate carrying a solution-tray projecting within said curb, operating-rods journaled in the sides of said box, a negative-holder pivotally supported to said rods and in alinement with said tray, said rods adapted to be manipulated from the outside to carry said holder in and out of the solution in said tray, a colored-glass slide adapted to be passed under said holder when the same is elevated and the tray rei-noved so as to shut out the detrimental rays of light from the said opening in the bottom of the box, substantially as set forth.

4:. A photographic developing apparatus comprising a box having an opening in the bottom of smaller area than said bottom, a curb surrounding said opening whose area is also less than said bottom, a base-plate adapted to overlap and close said opening, said plate carrying a solution-tray projecting within said curb, operating-rods journaled in the sides of the box and carrying a negativeholder pivotally supported thereto, said rods adapt-ed to be moved in opposite directions to carry said holder in and out of the solution, a stop to limit the downward movement of said holder and also serve to keep said Signed at Bridgeport, inthe county of Fair holder stiif and rigid and free from oscillation field and State of Connecticut, this 24th day when the operating-rods are both moved in of November, 1902.

one direction so that said holder will be HOMER F. NORTHROP. 5 moved to and fro in the solution in unison Witnesses:

with said rods, substantially as described and GEORGE W. FINN,

for the purpose set forth. l S. J. CHAFFEE, 

